The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has secured a major investment partnership with Chinese aquaculture company, Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. The partnership aims to develop large-scale fish farming in the Volta Basin and was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This initiative is expected to introduce modern fish farming practices, create employment opportunities, and increase fish production for both domestic and international markets. The agreement was reached during an investment mission to China undertaken by a delegation from the Volta Region.
The investment mission was led by Ghana's Ambassador to China, H.E. Kojo Bonsu, who facilitated engagements between the Volta delegation and potential Chinese investors. The mission was coordinated by Hon. Peter Ahiekpor, who supported the delegation in its engagements with businesses and institutions in China. The signing ceremony brought together traditional leaders from various parts of the Volta Region and representatives of Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. is a major player in China's tilapia production and processing industry with extensive experience in fish farming, processing, and distribution.
Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. has a daily tilapia processing capacity of approximately 150,000 kilogrammes across nine modern production lines. The company operates more than 260,000 tilapia ponds, reflecting the scale of its aquaculture operations and experience in commercial fish production. Its distribution network reportedly reaches a significant portion of the Chinese market, supplying tilapia products to approximately one in every seven people in China. The company also exports its tilapia products to more than 70 countries, giving the proposed partnership an international dimension.
For the Volta Region, the collaboration presents an opportunity to leverage the company's experience and technical expertise to strengthen the region's aquaculture value chain. The Volta Basin has long been regarded as having considerable potential for fish production, although challenges relating to production capacity, technology, investment, and value addition have limited the full exploitation of that potential. The proposed investment is expected to support the development of more commercially oriented fish farming operations, potentially improving production methods and increasing the availability of locally produced fish.
The partnership could generate employment opportunities across different stages of the aquaculture value chain, including fish farming, feed production, processing, transportation, packaging, marketing, and related services. Traditional authorities involved in the initiative are expected to play an important role in supporting discussions around land, community participation, and the creation of an enabling environment for the proposed investment. The project is further expected to contribute to efforts to reduce dependence on imported fish by expanding domestic production and strengthening Ghana's capacity to meet growing demand for fish and fish products.
Other chiefs who attended the signing ceremony included Togbega Gabusu VII of Hohoe, Togbe Atikpladza Agbi Yao VIII of Kpalime, Togbega Sei II of Botoku, and Togbui Dagadu IX of Kpando. Also present were Torgbui Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII of Anyako and Torgbiga Adamah III of Some, alongside other members of the delegation and representatives connected to the investment engagement. The MoU represents another development in efforts by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to attract international investment into the region.
The proposed aquaculture project is expected to position the Volta Basin as an important centre for commercial fish production in Ghana and potentially the wider West African market. With the partnership, the Volta Regional House of Chiefs aims to attract strategic investments into the region and unlock the potential of the Volta Basin for fish production. The collaboration with Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. is a significant step towards achieving this goal and is expected to have a positive impact on the region's economy and food security.
Key points
- The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has secured a major investment partnership with Chinese aquaculture company, Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd., to develop large-scale fish farming in the Volta Basin.
- The partnership is expected to introduce modern fish farming practices, create employment opportunities, and increase fish production for both domestic and international markets.
- The proposed investment is expected to support the development of more commercially oriented fish farming operations, potentially improving production methods and increasing the availability of locally produced fish.
